AFC Bournemouth assistant Inigo Perez still awaiting work permit

Perez is still awaiting a work permit to be able to join Iraola in the dugout at Vitality Stadium, with the hold-up likely due to a wait for a Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) from the FA.

In order to be automatically granted a GBE, an assistant manager must hold a UEFA A license, the second-highest qualification offered by the governing body of European football.

On top of this, an assistant must have managed in a ‘top league’ for either three of the last five years, or two consecutive years.

A former teammate of Iraola at Athletic Club, Perez is not a long-standing fixture of the head coach’s backroom staff, having only retired in 2022 to take up the role of assistant manager at Rayo Vallecano.

Inigo Perez, right, during his playing days with Athletic Club (Image: PA)

Perez was only appointed at Rayo Vallecano after Iraola parted ways with his lieutenant from his first two seasons at Rayo Vallecano, and previous club Mirandes, Unai Mendia, in the summer of 2022.

Operating as number two to Iraola represented Perez’s first job as a coach, whereas Pablo de la Torre, the other member of staff that swapped Madrid for Bournemouth, has worked at six different clubs before joining Cherries.

If these criteria are not met, a club can request an exceptions panel, made up of three independent members, two of which who will have ‘relevant experience at the top level of the game’.

However, even if the exceptions panel recommends a GBE should be granted, the FA is under no obligation to do so.

A GBE is required in order for an International Sportsperson visa to be granted by the Home Office.

Perez has at least been able to do some work with Cherries, having been a part of the pre-season training camp in Marbella, Spain.

Asked by the Daily Echo for the latest with Perez’s situation, Iraola replied: “I cannot give you updates. I hope I could give you updates, but right now I don't have new news about him, sorry.

“I wish I could work with him because he's someone that knows me very well and knows the way we want to play very well.

“And he has been very important, especially in pre-season.

“But right now I'm also very happy with the help, especially on the coaching side with Tommy (Elphick) and Shaun (Cooper).

“They are helping me a lot. They are helping me even with the referees, with the Premier League, they know better than me, and I really appreciate their help.”

The UK government website lists three criteria that must be confirmed prior to an International Sportsperson visa being approved, namely being an “elite sportsperson or qualified coach” that is also “internationally established”, as well as their employment being viewed as able to “develop your sport in the UK at the highest level”.

As with all visas, applicants must show a knowledge of English, proven either by passing an approved test or having an academic qualification taught in English viewed as being equivalent to a bachelor’s degree or higher.

The offer to join Iraola at Cherries was not Perez’s only option this summer, with the coach also given the opportunity to replace his former teammate as Rayo Vallecano manager.

“He had the chance (to replace me as Rayo Vallecano manager),” continued Iraola.

“He's very good. He will be a coach one day, but he's ready also, if he can, to help us, and I think it will be a good thing for us.”